Neighborhoods that report drainage problems to the city wait five years for funding to tackle their projects, Gonzalez said; neighborhood street reconstructions — more extensive overhauls that also address drainage — carry 12-year waits.

“And it's not because of the inefficiencies of the city,” Costello said. “It's because of lack of funding. We as a community should not accept that.”

Costello, a civil engineer, has called for new revenue sources for drainage projects. He estimates outstanding repair needs total $10 billion.

The plan includes:

• Placing a drainage fee on new development, similar to the water and sewer impact fee now in place.

• Moving away from a debt-financed system of selling bonds to pay for projects to a “pay-as-you-go” approach, trimming interest payments.

• Implementing a drainage fee on all city properties. A study would determine the size of the fee, which would vary based on a property's size and type.

A drainage fee was proposed by former mayor Lee Brown near the end of his administration in 2002, but was dubbed a ‘rain tax' by opponents and scuttled.

Council member Wanda Adams, who also attended the meeting, asked what made this effort different from Brown's attempt.

Costello said Brown's effort didn't include the public, didn't have a technical basis for determining what the fee should be, and focused on distributing projects in each political district, not based on need.

Costello said this effort is beginning with a petition drive, with the goal of putting the issue before voters in November. The campaign hopes to gather 50,000 signatures by the July 1 deadline, said engineer Jeff Ross of ReNew Houston, a group that has formed to lobby for the plan.

“If the people don't want this, it won't happen,” Ross said.

Many residents detailed flooding issues in their neighborhoods; some suggested changes to city building code or public works practices. None said they opposed the drainage fee, but some were cautious in their support.

“I'm not sure it's a lack of funding, but misplaced funding priorities,” said resident Mike Beck. “Streets have taken a backseat to whatever, and I know it's not because of low tax rates. That said, I will support increased funding for streets and drainage.”

Other residents spoke of the need for a fix by any means. Mae Hood of Independence Heights said she remembers standing in flood waters while waiting for the bus as a girl 70 years ago. Her neighborhood's children face the same problem today, she said.

“Every time it rains we have flooding, not only sometimes, but every time,” she said. “Nothing has ever been done.”